I Heart Kelly and an OOTD

 {photo of whitney and kelly at mercedes-benz fashion week swim in miami last summer}

Soooo…I just finished watching The Hills/The City (my Tuesday night obsession) and can I just say that I freaking love Kelly Cutrone!  For realz.  She is so awesome and ballsy, I LOVE it.  Please take note of what she said about tonight about Olivia double crossing her precious Whitney….Prepare yourself cause it’s awesome (and slightly vulgar if you have sensitive ears…)

“No, she is dead.  She is dead.  I will f**king come up like a shark underneath a glass bottom boat and whip the shit out of her.

Hahahhaha, that woman is so honest and crazy-in-a-good-way, I freaking LOVE her.  I will literally laugh at that statement for as long as I live and use it the first moment someone gets shady on me.  She cracks me up in the most delightful way possible.  I love love love her.  LOVE HER if you missed that.  Love.Her.

Ok, I’m done…(I’m sorry.  When I love peeps, I reeeally love them.) 

Anyway…on to my outfit of the day.  Well, outfit of the day, yesterday.  I had no photographer.  Just me, my camera, and my mirror.  Check it.

 

Blazer: the Gap

Tank: TJ Maxx

Boyfriend jeans: the Gap

Shoes: Gianni Bini

Necklaces: from my trip to Spain; vintage

Ring: David Yurman

Earrings: New York and Company (gifted from my sister in law)

A few months ago, I finally figured out how to wear blazers, and since then I’ve been scooping them up every chance I get (and can afford.)  I had my eye on this one at the Gap, but on the hanger, it looked like a weird hoodie/blazer child.  Not good.  But a few weeks later, a sale tag made me try it on.  And I loved it.  The hoodie/blazer combination?  Genius.  I kind of felt like I was sitting at my desk in my pajamas, yet no one else could tell.  One point for me, zero for the office dress code.

And for the rest of your week, a little motivation on how to handle the bully in your life.  In the words of  Kelly Cutrone of course…

“You need to take this bitch out.  Scare the shit out of her, and don’t ever do it in email or do it in writing.” 

Hahaha, awe-some.  (PS Mom, I know this totally might embarrass you on my blog, but you and Kelly Cutrone have some similarities.  You are not quite as crazy or quite as vulgar, but your momma bear instincts, no BS ways, and tendency to scare people who don’t know you are totally similar.  In a good way of course.)

PS: If you don’t watch The City, please don’t think I’m some deranged psycho.  Kelly’s awesomeness is an acquired taste, one that I frankly find quite hilarious.

On that note (and the note that half of you all probably think I’m crazy) goodnight and have a happy Wednesday.  And if anyone messes with you tomorrow…shark with glass bottom boat… :)

Professional Hairbraider Wanted

Trends usually fade in and out, but one of trends that I've been happy to see linger around is braids.  While I give Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad and J.Simp (I love Jessica Simpson so much I refer to her as J.Simp.  We're BFFs; its fine) the credit for introducing this trend to Hollywood, lots of celebs and actresses have certainly followed suit and given this trend real staying power.  Of course, the braid trend has morphed a little bit going from side braid in a pony tail, to small braid up front with hair down, to full updos with braids, but if a trend is going to stay, I think a little morphing is to be expected.  I have loved the braid in each of it's stages.  The problem is, I have no idea how to braid, much less french braid.

My love/lust relationship with braids has an early history.  In elementary school, french braids were the cool things to wear.  Until third grade, I wore a uniform to school, and there wasn't really any way jazz up the forest green plaid.  (Sick, I know.  I had to wear it.)  So lots of girls would sport french braids or if they were really stylish, they'd wear "double french braids."  I longed to jazz up my forest green plaid, and being the fabulous mom that she was, my mom wanted to support this wish.  So my mom and I enrolled in a french braiding class at the local rec center.  Haha, rereading that last sentence I realize it sounds like I grew up in teeny tiny town America with a Piggly Wiggly, but I actually grew up in suburban Dallas, where apparently rec centers and french braiding are hip.  So my mom signed us up and away we went, full of enthusiasm and french braid dreams.  That lasted about ten minutes into the first lesson when my mom and I both realized french braiding was NOT her thing.  She tugged, pulled, and squeezed harder than I ever thought possible, and oblivious to her frustration and intense effort to make me happy, I whined the whole time (I hope my children aren't as whiny as I am was.)  We went to braid school another week or two, with little improvement and diminishing dreams of braids.  A few weeks into the class, my mom had to go on bed rest as she was pregnant and at risk with my little brother.  She said that my dad and I would continue the class, because she knew how much I wanted to have my hair braided.  I appreciated her thoughtful offer, but remembering the time my dad was in charge and sent to me dance pictures with no tights, I declined.  So we tucked away our braid book and the torture comb comb my mom used to separate my hair and called it a day.  (Please note though that my mom never lost sight of my braid dreams.  She took me to our hair stylist often so I could have my hair braided for a special day at school or the father daughter dance.  Seriously, what kind of mom drops money to have her daughter's braided for no major reason?  Only my awesomely thoughtful mom!)

Fast forward a few years to high school when I met my BFF Jordan.  She was silly, loving, fun to be with and...she could french braid.  Woo hoo, my prayers were answered!  I rocked the double french braids to drill team camps and school spirit days on and off for the next couple of years.  Then in college, the braid trend went away, as braids were still thought of as little girl or teeny bopper styles.  But then around 2007ish, the braids came back in style thanks to my girls mentioned above, and both me and Hollywood took notice.  Luckily, my sweet, awesome friend Tarah had quite polished braiding skills and indluged me often when I'd ask for a quick braid.  Sadly, Tarah graduated with her master's last year, and left me in this little town, with one less friend and no braids.  Tear.

Recently, I've been reminded about my braid lust as the braid has gotten a recent revamp in the updo form.  Not like "cheesey prom updo" but like chic, slightly flower child, and oh so office appropriate up do.  All the cool kids in Hollywood are rocking them and, to me, they give just the right amount of polish and individuality to any look.  So, with that said, I refuse to be left out of this adorably perfect trend and am looking for any french braiders/twisters/gurus in the area who wouldn't mind stopping by house every morning to help me polish off my office look.  Until I find someone, I will continue to look longingly at pics of J. Simp, Lauren Conrad, and Whitney Port, sigh...I heart you braids.

Oh so stylish Whitney Port lunching with friends and rocking the twisted braid.

Nicole Richie who consistently reinvents the wheel when it comes to effortless chic.

Lauren Conrad can do no wrong in my book.  LOVE her.

Tarah (my sweet friend who loves me enough to indulge my braid dreams) and I at brunch at Blue Mesa.  And yes, that little braid is courtesy of her :)

Rock the Cocktail Rings

Cocktail rings are a staple in my wardrobe.  I'm a firm believer you don't need a party or a cocktail to rock a cocktail ring.  I think they look fabulous at the office, with jeans a white tee, or with the obvious little black dress.  In recent years, I've extended this trend to include wearing multiple rings on one hand (a la Lauren Conrad) and stacking rings when I feel brave (see Whitney Port for inspiration.)  I was a little thrown off from my ring obsession after Matt and I got engaged, because I couldn't quite figure out how my new bling fit in with my cocktail collection.  I figured there had to be "rules" about not wearing rings bigger than your engagement ring, not mixing colors, etc etc.  However, as my engagement ring and wedding band became normal shmormal (although still delightfully gorgeous), I thought my other fingers looked sad.  So I decided, screw the rules and I got back to my cocktail ring roots.  I'm back to being adventurous, wearing different shades of gold, stacking rings, and rocking my Yurman with a flea market find.  Fashion has no rules right?  Check out some of my recent favorites that will be at the top of my Christmas wish list this year and watch for upcoming flea market and vintage store finds, as they truly have the most magical cocktail rings in my opinion.  So whether you're sipping a coke or a cocktail, rocking jeans or a dress, grab one, two or three rings and get going!

Kate Spade's "Catnapper" Mouse Rings

Juicy Couture "Dazed and Coutured" Stackable Rings

David Yurman Blue Topaz ring (my first Valentines Day gift from Matt and one of my favorite possessions.)  No one does rings like David Yurman.  If I ever win the lottery, I will without a doubt buy every piece made by him.

Anthropologie "Tentacles" Ring.  40% creepy, 60% cool.  I'll take it.